Nothing says spring like these high quality petite green pods! A great way to start
off the season. Tasty round pods on dwarf 2’ vines are early with a concentrated crop.
1983 AAS winner from the same breeders as the famous Sugar Snap. Short harvest window • 2.5-3” pods. (Pisum sativum)

Because peas are planted in the early spring when conditions are often wet, good drainage is important. Sandy soils are best. Ensure good yields by adjusting soil pH to above 6.0 using lime, or wood ash where soils are low in potassium. For nitrogen, 20-30 lbs /acre is adequate. Higher amounts may cause lush foliage with poor flowering and fruit set. Peas fix nitrogen in the soil through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria. To ensure adequate numbers of pre-existing bacteria, mix seed with inoculants right before planting.

Position

Full sun to part shade

Seeding Depth

Seeding depth: 1-2”

Seeding Rate

Direct seeding: Sow ~25 seeds/ft in a 3" wide band. Dwarf varieties do not require trellising, but taller varieties should be supported in order to avoid disease and make harvesting easier. Plant peas in two rows, 8-12” apart, with a mesh or wire trellis between the rows for peas to climb.

Plant Spacing

1-1.5"

Row Spacing

For dwarf peas 12-18", for trellising peas 4-6'

When to Sow

Direct seed as soon as soil can be worked in the spring. Seeds will germinate in soil temperatures as low as 40°F, although slowly.When soils are around 60°F, seeds will germinate more quickly. Hot, dry conditions adversely affect quality and yield, so it is advantageous to have the crop mature as early as planting schedules allow. In some regions, you can grow a successful fall crop by planting in late summer.

·Aphids can be washed off plants with a hard stream of water. They have several natural predators that control populations including parasites (aphids appear grey or bloated), lady beetle larvae and lacewings.

·Seedcorn maggot – Avoid heavy applications of manure or organic matter, as this can attract the flies and encourage egg laying.

Disease Info

Peas are subject to an array of root rots and wilts caused by different pathogens that are difficult to distinguish in the field and extremely difficult to control. The pathogens survive in the soil in dormant states that can persist for many years. Varieties resistant to all races of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi are available, and others with resistance to Pythium spp. and Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi are under development.

Peas are also subject to several leaf and pod blights, of which the most important are probably aschochyta blight (caused by any of three related species) and bacterial blight ( Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi). Both these diseases are highly transmissible by seed; all of our pea seed is grown in arid areas in which these diseases do not occur. All pea plant residues should be buried, burned, or composted at high temperatures to destroy disease organisms.

Self pollinated. Pea varieties do not require any distance for isolation. Peas being grown for seed must be trellised or else mold and dampness will rot the seed pods. Allow the pods to grow large and tough and eventually they and the plants will begin to dry down. Harvest by picking individual dry pods or by pulling the entire plants out of the ground and off the trellis. Shell by hand or thresh by flailing or stomping on a tarp. A 1/2" screen on top of a 1/4" screen will help with cleaning once the peas are threshed out of the pods. Pea seed will remain viable for 3 years under cool and dry storage conditions.